Firmament Sword

At first, Su Qianqian had been waiting for Xu Luo to come rescue her. She believed he would never stand by and watch her fall into peril; he would surely save her.

But now, Su Qianqian was truly afraid for Xu Luo to come. The Su Family Patriarch wasn’t particularly formidable. On the surface, the Su Family seemed to be merely a major clan of the Ancient Race, unlike the Huo Family of old, whose reputation was renowned far and wide.

But as it turned out, the Su Family was the type that hid its true strength. Its foundation was far from what outsiders imagined—just a few elders who had failed to reach the Saint Realm, their vitality waning as they slumbered in suspended animation. In reality, they had truly peerless experts!

Thinking back, Su Qianqian realized her past naivety. If the Su Family truly didn’t have any formidable figures watching over it, how could it have survived for so many years on the Ancient Race Continent, a land teeming with powerful clans?

’I wonder when Sister-in-law Xiao Ya will visit again. I have to tell her the news. I absolutely can’t let Brother Xu Luo risk his life to save me.’ A faint sorrow flickered in Su Qianqian’s exquisite eyes, but her gaze quickly grew resolute.

She stood up. The moment she stepped out of her room, her face resumed its cold and aloof expression, all her vulnerability carefully hidden away.

”I’m going for a walk,” Su Qianqian said nonchalantly to the guards outside as she entered the courtyard.

”Miss, the Patriarch said... the lands of the Ancient Race have been unsettled lately. He asks that you remain at home to rest quietly,” a guard in his thirties said, bowing respectfully.

Su Qianqian said coolly, ”Unsettled? Is this not the Su Family’s territory? Are you saying we aren’t even safe on our own doorstep?”

”Well...” The guard looked troubled.

Su Qianqian waved her hand. ”I won’t make things difficult for you. Go and tell the Patriarch that I’m bored and want to visit the marketplace.”

”Then... very well.” The young guard nodded, turned, and left to deliver the message.

Other guards remained in the courtyard. They were all there on the Patriarch’s orders to stay by Su Qianqian’s side, ostensibly for her protection. In reality, it was for surveillance.

Years ago, when Su Qianqian had raised a storm to go to the Sect Continent and help Xu Luo, the Su Family had dispatched a group of powerful experts from the Divine Power Realm to ”protect” her—which was also to prevent her from escaping.

In truth, Su Qianqian had never considered escaping. The one truly responsible for her family’s ruin was still alive. She had always thought it was the Patriarch, but now she finally understood: it was the Su Family Ancestor.

After so many generations, though they shared a surname, Su Qianqian’s branch of the family was so distant from the Ancient Race’s Su Family that they no longer shared any blood ties.

She felt not an ounce of goodwill toward the Ancient Race’s Su Family.

The younger generation of the Su Family, who were ignorant of the truth, were jealous and ostracized her. The older generation, who knew the situation, held her in contempt. As far as they were concerned, it was only a matter of time before Su Qianqian was used up and discarded.

Thus, though she was called the Celestial Maiden and seemed to hold a high status, the Su Family of the Ancient Race was, to Su Qianqian, nothing more than a cage.

A moment later, the young guard returned, looking troubled. ”Miss, the Patriarch says it is indeed unsettled outside. He does not recommend you go out...”

”Is it that he doesn’t recommend it, or that he forbids it?” Su Qianqian asked, her face devoid of expression.

”It’s... forbidden.” A flicker of sympathy appeared in the young guard’s eyes.

It couldn’t be helped. A man of his status was in no position to be involved in the family’s major affairs. And while he didn’t know why Su Qianqian was under such surveillance, he understood that the seemingly revered Su Family Celestial Maiden was, in reality, a pitiful, imprisoned woman.

”Forbidden, is it?” Su Qianqian wasn’t angry. In fact, this was the fifth time she had tested her boundaries recently.

News of the Huo Family’s fate had long since reached her, and everyone in the Su Family, from top to bottom, knew of it as well.

Because of this, the Su Family Patriarch, who knew of her relationship with Xu Luo, was on high alert. There were still more than four years until Su Qianqian fully fused with the Heart of the Fire Dragon, and he couldn’t afford any mishaps during that time. The fall of the Huo Family had cemented his decision: he would not let Su Qianqian out of his sight again.

Otherwise, if Su Qianqian actually managed to escape...

When that time came, if the Ancestor were to become enraged, no one in the Su Family would be able to bear the consequences.

”Miss... I’m sorry. I did my best,” the young guard said apologetically.

”It has nothing to do with you.” Su Qianqian waved her hand, turning to go back to her room.

Just then, footsteps sounded from outside, and a handsome young man walked in.

”Sister,” the young man called out to Su Qianqian’s back.

Su Qianqian turned to see Su Qingyi approaching with a smile. She smiled back faintly. ”Brother, what brings you here?”

Su Qingyi glanced around. ”Let’s talk in your room.”

Su Qianqian nodded silently. Although she had clearly rejected Su Qingyi back when they spoke on the Sect Continent, their relationship had since grown much closer.

Su Qingyi was arguably the only person in the entire Su Family who genuinely treated Su Qianqian well.

The guards in the courtyard didn’t stop them. For one, the Patriarch had only forbidden Su Qianqian from leaving. For another, Su Qingyi’s status in the Su Family was anything but ordinary.

Once in her room, Su Qingyi waved his hand, setting up a privacy barrier. Then, his eyes shining, he said to Su Qianqian, ”I have news about Xu Luo!”

”What? Where is he?” Su Qianqian asked urgently.

Although Su Qingyi had suppressed his feelings for her deep in his heart, seeing the woman he loved so anxious about another man still made him feel a pang of discomfort.

But he quickly pushed the feeling down and said softly, ”He and his group have entered the Ancient Race Continent. By now, they should be at the Huo Family estate.”

”The Huo Family...” Su Qianqian’s eyes narrowed in thought. After a moment, she said, ”It seems Brother Xu Luo is serious this time.”

”The Huo Family’s actions must have thoroughly enraged Xu Luo. That’s why they came to the Ancient Race Continent and went straight for them. I’m afraid... this time, the Huo Family is truly doomed,” Su Qingyi said.

”Brother, I need to ask you for a favor.” Su Qianqian looked at Su Qingyi, biting her lower lip. ”I need you to take a message to Xu Luo for me.”

Su Qingyi gave a wry smile and nodded. ”That’s why I came to see you. Don’t worry. With the reputation Beidou’s Eighth Star now commands, you’ll be free very soon!”

”No... that’s not what I mean.” A shadow passed over Su Qianqian’s eyes. ”I want you to tell Xu Luo not to come for me. Whether I live or die has nothing to do with him!”

”What?” Su Qingyi could hardly believe his ears. He stared at Su Qianqian, incredulous. ”Why?”

”There is no why. Just deliver the message for me, Brother,” Su Qianqian said coolly. ”After all these years, my feelings for him have long since faded. I was just immature back then, but I understand things better now. He’s not the one I love, so I certainly don’t need him to do anything for me.”

”Impossible!” Su Qingyi said, growing angry. ”You’re obviously lying! If you don’t love him... then why are there tears in your eyes? Tell me, what happened!”

”I’m telling the truth. Just deliver the message,” Su Qianqian said, her face a mask, even as glistening tears welled in her eyes. Her tone, however, was resolute.

”No! I can’t just stand by and watch you rot in this prison, much less watch you throw your life away!” Su Qingyi looked at Su Qianqian earnestly. ”Nothing in this world is worth giving up our lives and our freedom for. You can’t fool me. Something must have happened. Please tell me. Otherwise, I’ll... I’ll tie you up and drag you out of here myself! If the family hunts me down for it, I’ll face that alone. It will have nothing to do with you!”

Su Qianqian finally broke into tears. ”Su Qingyi, are you a fool?” she cried. ”Is it worth it? To push the woman you love into another man’s arms...”

”I’m not a fool...” Su Qingyi said with a pained, self-deprecating smile. ”The woman I love doesn’t love me back, so why should I force it? I’m not pushing her to someone else. Compared to romance... life and freedom are more important. If you weren’t facing a life-or-death crisis, why would I ever do this?”

”You... you fool!” Su Qianqian was at a loss for words. Looking at Su Qingyi, who was dead set on helping her escape her cage, she couldn’t help but sigh. ”I’m doing this because I don’t want to bring harm to any of you. Truly. I can’t tell you why. And don’t think... that just because you put up a barrier, no one can hear us. Brother, please go. Do as I said. Tell him that I, Su Qianqian... no, I, Su Celestial Maiden, have nothing to do with him, Xu Luo!”

”You...” Anger appeared on Su Qingyi’s face. ”Are you sure? You really want to do this?”

”Yes, I’m sure!” Su Qianqian said resolutely, tears streaming down her face.

”Fine then! Su Qianqian—no, Su Celestial Maiden! Don’t you regret this!” Su Qingyi spun around and made to leave.

Su Qianqian closed her eyes, tears clinging to her long lashes like glistening crystals. At this moment, her sorrow was hers alone to bear, but she felt no regret.

Because one day, Xu Luo would understand why she had done this.

’Perhaps... by then, he’ll be able to avenge me, right?’ Su Qianqian thought.

The very instant Su Qingyi turned, he suddenly struck!

Taking advantage of Su Qianqian’s moment of deepest sorrow, he directly sealed her Dantian.

”You... What are you doing?” Su Qianqian cried out in alarm, her eyes flying open to stare at Su Qingyi in horror.

”Saving you!” Su Qingyi waved his hand, sealing Su Qianqian directly into his personal storage space. Then, he shoved the door open and grumbled angrily for all to hear, ”Su Celestial Maiden, you are so heartless! Fine! From this day forward, we are through!”

The guards in the courtyard exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of what had just happened, as they watched the furious Su Qingyi storm away.